Xenos Marine, Pasadena, Texas, christened its newly acquired 297'x310' TX-10,000, a one of a kind, heavy-lift engineering ship following a mandatory five-year drydock maintenance. The vessel was christened on March 23, 2025, at Gulf Copper Shipyard, Galveston.
TX-10,000 was originally built by Versabar and later sold to TCM, a Teichman Group affiliate, in 2020. It was acquired by Xenos Marine in December 2024. Xenos Marine, a joint venture between Matt Fish and the Teichman Family, renamed the vessel to reflect its new ownership.
"The TX-10,000 is a true engineering marvel that performs ultra-heavy lifts safely and efficiently,” Kevin Teichman, CEO of the Teichman Group, said in a statement announcing the christening. “After completing over 250 offshore platform installations and decommissioning projects, some of extraordinary note, it is known as one of the greatest heavy-lift vessels of all time,"
The TX-10,000 is the largest heavy-lift vessel ever built in the U.S. It is U.S.-flagged and Jones Act-compliant, enabling unrestricted operations in U.S. waters. Built in 2010, the vessel is 250' tall, with a 166' wide span between its pontoons.
The vessel's gantry system is rated for a 10,000-ton lifting capacity, though offshore operations are limited to 7,500 tons due to pontoon restrictions.
Main propulsion includes eight 1,000-horsepower thrusters — four per barge — with backup systems that provide a DP3 rating, allowing the vessel to maintain position within three feet in unlimited water depths. Additionally, the TX-10,000 features an eight-point anchoring system for shallow-water operations, two helidecks, and a control house situated on the port pontoon for unobstructed views of operations.
With 44 diesel engines ensuring complete redundancy, the TX-10,000 is a highly reliable asset for complex operations. It can also be equipped with two massive lifting claws: a single claw can lift 3,000 tons or two claws combined for 4,000 tons. These claws, the largest in the world, are capable of grabbing structures in depths up to 350 feet. Each claw measures 130' tall, opens to 180', and weighs 1,000 tons each.
The ship’s most notable achievement was its role in the largest wreck removal in U.S. history: T&T Salvage's dismantling of the 660' car carrier Golden Ray that capsized off St. Simons, Georgia, in 2019 with 4,300 vehicles onboard. Its role in the Golden Ray operation cemented its place in history as one of the greatest heavy-lift vessels of all time, according to Xenos.
Xenos principal Matt Fish has overseen all operational and logistical aspects of the vessel since its construction and played the same role for its predecessor, the VB-4000.
"Being involved with this incredible asset, as well as its smaller predecessor, has been a uniquely rewarding experience," said Fish. "As a former Marine Special Operations Operator, I understand the importance of preparation, problem-solving, and teamwork. These principles guide the Xenos Marine team as we push the boundaries of what's possible."
Following the christening, the TX-10,000 returned to its home base in Sabine Pass, Texas, to prepare for the upcoming decommissioning season.
[Xenos did not provide the names of the equipment manufacturers.]
